Windows 7: Sysprep images for private distribution - best method

I'm finding that I've been installing/reinstalling windows a couple of times a month recently. Either I'm giving a "fresh start" to on of my household's computers or building a new computer for a friend or family member.

This not only takes a lot of time but also a lot of bandwidth. Updating windows over and over again is a pain and games are commonly 10-20GB a piece nowadays.

Here's my plan, can someone tell me if it makes sense or offer better methods?

Using VMware, create 3 images.

-One image with only windows updates and essential programs (AV, VLC, browsers, etc).
-A copy image of that one with all non-game programs commonly used (office, gimp, wtvr).
-And a third copy with everything including games.

Make copies and sysprep the copies.
Install them to the physical machines as needed.


I have several questions:
-How does licensing (other than windows 7's) work with sysprep? Are office licenses erased? What about non-MS programs like adobe photoshop? Should I just not be activating anything until the physical install?
-Are there any alternative 3rd party options to sysprep? Some sort of sysprep that allows you to choose what programs are installed during setup would be cool.
-I have a bit of experience with vmware, so I prefer using it but if there is something that fits my needs better let me know.

Anyway, I'm sure my methods can be improved upon a lot, so I'm open to any suggestions.

thanks

I hesitate to even respond since I wonder if you're using valid licenses for the software you're passing from computer to computer, but here goes anyway;
I support a "herd of boxen", all of which are one vendor with over a half dozen models and two OSes, XP and Windows 7.
I regularly keep images, captured using imagex, of all the different models on my server where I have ample space for dozens of images.
When I apply an image, Windows plus a couple of vendor supplied applications, I update it first, then re-capture it if there are a significant number of updates since the last capture. I then install applications specific to the user or group of users.
Then I sysprep each system to standardize the profile and make sure it's consistent across the board.
The only time I capture an image that has more than Windows and the Vendor applications is when I'm rolling out several computers to a group that requires the same software for each user.

ALL the applications that I install are either free or properly licensed. Sysprepping has not lost any license numbers, BUT all my licenses are volume licenses with multiple seats. I have had to reactivate an app or two, but that has been the exception, not the rule.

Assuming your are using Volume licensing with enough seats to cover the distribution, I don't see a problem.

If not, and you're pirating anything, I hope my advice blows up in your face.

Just saying.

Best of luck if you're legit and please overlook my cautious approach.

Nope, not pirating anything. For my own home use, I get all MS products (except office) free through my college legally. Same with vmware and all the programming tools I use. For friends and family, I buy them an OEM windows 7 key and usually give them the choice of paying for office (and whatever else) or using one of the free ones. I'm not a business and wouldn't really be able to use volume licenses effectively.

And actually I was hoping sysprep would erase all licenses. This way I could install programs with my licenses, update them, sysprep, install on the physical and then insert the new licenses. I guess I just won't activate anything on the virtuals.

Your solution using imagex works but still leaves me with the same problems as vmware.

And the more I think about it, the more I realise how useful a sysprep alternative (or complementing program) would be. If there was a tool that could take a sysprepped image and, during setup, give you a choice as to which programs are kept, that would be awesome.

How many people in your family that you would need such a program to do what you want. Does the college that gives A free program to A student know it being used for the complete family and neighborhood.

Maybe I was unclear, the computers in my home use software from the college. Only those computers (all seven of them). People outside of my household pay for their licences. I build computers for my friends who can't do it themselves, I pick parts and software, send them my newegg shopping list for verification and then buy, assemble, install and test the system before charging them what I paid for it.

A program that does what I mentioned above would let me pre-install whatever games or programs people want without any extra effort. I could simply have one image with everything I own installed on it that I keep up to date.

If there isn't such a program, I'll just stick with images, but if you know of one (or a better solution) let me know.

thanks.

I'm trying to learn something. Programs that I own and have a paid for license is for one computer only. If I would want to install the program on 7 computers who ever they belong to I would have to purchase 6 more licenses. A total of 7 license. That is where I get confused. One license for one computer at a time. What I'm missing.

....I have six windows 7 licenses from my college, one for each computer (plus a windows server license). There is no "one license only" rule at the college, they simply ask that I don't give them away.
As to the other programs, (Visual Studio, VMware, etc), I have one or two licenses, depending whether I need them on both my laptop and desktop or not.
For MS office, I have one of these which I bought and a 2007 version of the same thing.
For games, most current ones don't need a license to install, but instead require an account with the game license attached, so I can install them on any number of computers.

None of this has anything to do with my question though.

Let me reiterate my question:
Every computer I install windows on has the following:
-VLC
-Chrome and FF
-Adobe reader
-TeamViewer
-7-zip
-notepad++
-CCleaner

They also have one of each of these:
-MS Office or open source alt
-AV, either Nod32 or Avira or another

They may have any number of the following:
-MSI afterburner, CPUz, furmark, prime95
-Programming tools
-Adobe's suite
-Games
-belarc
-vent, xfire, teamspeak
-dameon tools
-a lot more

Manually installing most of these isn't too hard but I find myself doing it more and more often and the time adds up. As a programmer, I automatically try to eliminate useless repetition. Is there a better way to this than with images?

No it really doesn't but I do have a better idea of what you are trying to do and why. Thanks for indulging in my curiosity.

Well; When I apply and image to one of my vendor computers, I can change the key for Windows as well as the key for Office. There's an option for that.
I can't say what Adobe stuff is like since we only have a couple of machines here that use anything other than the free Reader. Seems I recall you can install some of them without a key, but can't use them without a key. That might give you one shortcut, but how many of your friends can afford Adobe software anyway ?? None of mine can.
Some of the apps you mention I am unfamiliar with, so I can't comment at all as to what options they might offer.

I'm curious where you go to school though. I'd just about kill for 6 clients and server.

I you have any illegal software this site will not help you.